This exploratory, phenomenological qualitative study explored how a single, relational micro-intervention focused on respectful conversation across difference might influence sense of belonging and level of curiosity among participating community college students. The study also explored the implications of this intervention for improving campus…

School alienation is a complex phenomenon that has recently attracted considerable attention from psychologists because of the negative consequences that may result from it, such as poor academic performance, learning difficulties, school disengagement, behavioral problems, and withdrawal from the educational system, which interfere with students'…

The purpose of this narrative inquiry was to explore the story of a secondary ensemble teacher who experienced burnout and chose to remain in the profession. Eleanor and I met for three semistructured interviews and two observations. I used Clandinin and Connelly's three-dimensional inquiry space as a framework for this study. Narrative analysis…

This annual report presents data on students who registered with disability services at Maryland colleges and universities and provides analysis on graduation, transfer and retention outcomes for those students. To better understand higher education outcomes for students with disabilities in Maryland, the Maryland Higher Education Commission…

Researchers often invoke the metaphor of a pipeline when studying participation in careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), focusing on the important issue of students who "leak" from the pipeline, but largely ignoring students who persist in STEM. Using interview, survey, and institutional data over 6 years,…

This qualitative research study sought to understand how African American and Latinx students overcame academic failure to achieve good standing. In this study, Latinx and African American students' academic readiness was a marginal factor in academic success. The following research questions framed the conversation: What are African American and…

The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of Black alumni of exclusively Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs) who completed doctoral degrees in various disciplines. The specific focus was the participants' college and graduate experiences which led to graduate persistence, success, and ultimately graduation from a doctoral…

The federally funded Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) is designed to "increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education" (U.S. Department of Education, 2021). Despite this stated purpose, the majority of research on GEAR UP program…

The issue of first-year college students academic performance and persistence rate has recently become a focal point for policy discussions because researchers, administrators, counselors, and policymakers are increasingly interested in understanding why some students succeed while others fail. To help incoming freshmen accomplish their academic…

This study aimed to understand educational perceptions of persistence of female Latino students, ages 25-40, of assimilated parents. The need to explain the phenomenon is warranted further to uncover persistence barriers specifically for female Latino students. Although there is research related to Latinos in education, there is a gap between…

The Hispanic population was the largest minority group within the US in 2017. Yet gaps existed for Hispanic college students and degree obtainment. The problem of this phenomenological study was that First-Year Experience (FYE) Hispanic college students had low retention rates in their college courses, especially when there were not effective…

Education is critical to a democratic nation and in creating a strong economy (Verstegen, 2008). The importance of education is clear across society as an important tool in creating equal opportunities for all children regardless of race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. As school accountability increases, it is critical to determine what…

As low-income, first-year, rural community college students struggle to find their place and space at their institutions to achieve socio-academic integration, current research fails to fully examine the hardships that are placed on this population of students or how they navigate these environments for ultimate success. This study examined how…

Teacher attrition adversely impacts the academic future of the students in public schools. Each year, thousands of classrooms go without qualified teachers to provide instruction. Without qualified teachers to instruct students using college and career readiness standards, education agencies, including state departments of education, districts,…

Online course enrollment is increasing but online course completion and retention rates are decreasing in public community colleges and this study suggests more increases in online course enrollment are underway. Student affairs professionals are met with adversity to provide adequate support to online students due to substandard administrative…